L'Eau de Ryokuei (2003)
by Menard

Notes (from First In Fragrance): Osmanthus, fruity notes, violet, lily-of-the-valley, rose, jasmine, sandalwood, musk, ambergris.

An utter beauty. L'Eau de Ryokuei begins with citrus and very light, transparent floral notes. The citrus top notes soon retreat and leave the heart to an exquisitely limpid floral accord. The floral notes here are so well blended that I can't easily distinguish them. A bit of lilac? Some muguet? Perhaps a touch of lotus blossom? The blend is ethereal without being anemic and liquid without being conventionally "aquatic."

The closest parallel I know to Ryokuei's olfactory texture is Olivia Giacobetti's En Passant for Frederic Malle. While the two smell nothing alike, both evoke similar emotional responses: gentle reverie tinged with heartbreak. L'Eau de Ryokuei is like a delicate watercolor rendered with just a few well-placed brushstrokes. It may not be all that lasting, but its evanescence makes it all the more haunting.

23rd December, 2009. (Last Edited: 7th July, 2010.)